IP Library Granted Patent US 9,706,304
Granted Patent B1
US 9,706,304 · App. 15/084,179 · Granted Jul 11, 2017

Systems and methods to control audio output for a particular ear of a user

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,706,304
App. No.
15/084,179
Granted
Jul 11, 2017
Kind
B1
Abstract

In one aspect, a device includes a processor and storage accessible to the processor. The storage bears instructions executable by the processor to, based on input received from a sensor, control a first audio output per at least a first setting for a left ear of a user. The instructions are also executable by the processor to, based on input received from a sensor, control a second audio output per at least a second setting for a right ear of the user.

Claims (48)

1. A device, comprising:

a processor;

storage accessible to the processor and bearing instructions executable by the processor to:

based on input received from at least one sensor, control a first audio output per at least a first setting for a left ear of a user;

based on input received from at least one sensor, control a second audio output per at least a second setting for a right ear of the user; and

present a user interface (UI) on a display at which control is enableable of audio output based on audio output settings for the left ear and the right ear.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions to control comprise instructions executable by the processor to:

based on input received from a first sensor, control the first audio output per at least the first setting for the left ear of the user; and

based on input received from a second sensor, control the second audio output per at least the second setting for the right ear of the user.

3. The device of claim 1 , comprising at least one audio output device for outputting the first audio output and the second audio output.

4. The device of claim 1 , comprising the at least one sensor.

5. The device of claim 4 , comprising a telephony transceiver, and wherein the first audio output and the second audio output pertain to a telephone call facilitated at least in part using the telephony transceiver.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first setting is different from the second setting but is of a same setting type as the second setting.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one sensor from which input is received comprises one or more of: a touch sensor, a camera.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one audio output device is used for outputting the first audio output and the second audio output, and wherein the first setting pertains to at least one frequency band of audio output from the at least one audio output device.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one audio output device is used for outputting the first audio output and the second audio output, and wherein the first setting pertains to overall volume used to output audio from the at least one audio output device.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

based on input received from at least one sensor, identify a first characteristic of a canal of the left ear and control the first audio output per at least the first setting for the left ear based on the identification of the first characteristic; and

based on input received from at least one sensor, identify a second characteristic of a canal of the right ear and control the second audio output per at least the second setting for the right ear.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

present a user interface (UI) on a display at which the first setting and the second setting are configurable, the UI at which the first setting and the second setting are configurable comprising at least one selector to toggle between configuration of the first setting and configuration of the second setting.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are to control comprise instructions executable by the processor to:

based on input received from a first sensor, control the first audio output per at least the first setting for the left ear of the user; and

based on input received from the first sensor, control the second audio output per at least the second setting for the right ear of the user.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first setting pertains to outputting at least some audio louder than had audio output not been controlled per the first setting.

14. The device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

based on input received from at least one gyroscope, control the first audio output per at least the first setting for the left ear of the user;

based on input received from at least one gyroscope, control the second audio output per at least the second setting for the right ear of the user.

15. A method, comprising:

controlling, based on input received from at least one sensor, a first audio output per at least a first setting for a left ear of a user;

controlling, based on input received from at least one sensor, a second audio output per at least a second setting for a right ear of the user; and

presenting a user interface (UI) on a display, the UI comprising a setting that is enableable for a device to control audio output per at least the first setting for the left ear and per at least the second setting for the right ear.

16. The method of claim 15 , comprising:

controlling at least one speaker accessible to the device to output the first audio and the second audio.

17. The method of claim 15 , comprising:

controlling, based on input received from at least one orientation sensor, the first audio output per at least the first setting for the left ear of the user; and

controlling, based on input received from at least one orientation sensor, the second audio output per at least the second setting for the right ear of the user.

18. A computer readable storage medium that is not a transitory signal, the computer readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by a processor to:

based on input from a sensor, control a first audio output per at least a first setting for a left ear of a user;

based on input from the sensor, control a second audio output per at least a second setting for a right ear of the user; and

present a user interface (UI) on a display accessible to the processor, the UI comprising a setting that is enableable for the processor to control audio output per at least the first setting for the left ear and per at least the second setting for the right ear.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the first audio output and the second audio output are output through a same audio output device.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

control a first output device to output the first audio output and simultaneously control a second audio output device different from the first audio output device to output the second audio output.

21. A method, comprising:

determining that audio output is to be tailored to a first ear of a user;

based on the determining that the audio output is to be tailored to the first ear of the user, controlling an audio output device to output audio per at least a first setting associated with the first ear; and

presenting a user interface (UI) on a display, the UI comprising a selector that is enableable for an apparatus to control audio output, using the audio output device, per at least the first setting associated with the first ear.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2025
From: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 069870/0670 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2019
From: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 049693/0582 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2016
From: KELSO, SCOTT EDWARDS; VANBLON, RUSSELL SPEIGHT; WEKSLER, ARNOLD S.
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 038127/0473 →